learn blues harmonica

September BluesHarmonica.com 2011 Newsletter
Leader in Blues Harmonica Education since 1994

WHAT'S NEW!
Steve Baker’s Harmonica Masters Workshop 2011 continue reading...

Here are the common ways in which to articulate a chord on the harmonica. Keep in mind that these articulations are not embouchure-specific. In other words, these are articulations that both pucker and tongue block players can use when playing a chord, such as draw or blow holes 1 2 3 (as seen in Ex. 1.2 of Solo Harmonica Study 1 on the site).

1) HA - Not a true articulation (you have to close off the airstream momentarily to be a articulation), but is one way in which we create differentiation between a stream of similar pitches (think Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha....) continue reading...

Here's how I'd change the lick that we've been looking at...

D Harmonica (2nd Position): 3' 3" 2 2" 2 = Even more bluesy now (2" is the flat-7th... a bluesy note) and keeps all the notes in a draw (good for speed)

G Harmonica (3rd Position): 5 5+ 4 4+ 4 = More bluesy and WAY easier to play... you can also play a two-hole split (octaves for some) the entire time

A Harmonica (1st Position): messes this lick up... sorry 1st Position, you're out of contention for this lick!

Join Joe Filisko for his latest insights into the world of good blues harmonica playing with Insight #10, Playing & Practicing

Gary Smith completes his thoughts on the blues harmonica instrumental song writing process in this final video of the series.

Let's now work on a new lick. Play the following blues lick on the D Harmonica in Second Position...

D Harmonica (2nd Position): 3' 3" 2 1 2

Work out where this lick will happen on the G Harmonica (for 3rd Position) and the A Harmonica (for 1st Position). Which position is easier for you to play and which version sounds best to YOU?

Repertoire Builders are new original instrumentals that I wrote to go between your tongue blocking and bending studies. These songs don't teach any new techniques, but places into context what you've learned in the previous Bending and Tongue Blocking Studies. These songs continue to work technique along with giving you a fun songs to play that contain valuable lick vocabulary for your improvising.

Contributor Joe Tartaglia just started to learn the newest song (found in Bending Study 2.5) in Lesson 26, check it out when you get a moment

Let's now talk about the first note for each position...

1) 1st Position: A Harp - 6+
A) Single note
B) Slap
C) Flutter
D) Octave (3+/6+)

2) 2nd Position: D Harp - 4
A) Single note
B) Dip (start bent and release quickly)
C) Addition of 5 (bluesy/dirty)
D) Shake (4/5)
E) Slap
F) Flutter
G) Octave

3) 3rd Position: G Harp - 6
A) Single note
B) Dip
C) Addition of 7 (VERY dirty)
D) Shake (6/7 VERY dissonant, but we do use it now and again)
E) Slap
F) Flutter